About Dwight
- Dwight with grandparents Tozo & Usa Takamine on their farm in Ahualoa.
Dwight, the eldest of five children, was born and raised in the plantation community of Honoka‘a by Yoshito and Kimiko Takamine. The Takamines instilled the value of hard work ethics, the importance of education and compassion for others in their children. Dwight excelled both athletically and scholastically at the public schools in Honoka‘a where in 1971 Dwight graduated as class valedictorian.
Dwight went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology while participating in the ethnic studies program at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. Dwight subsequently studied law at UH and received his law degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law in 1978.
After graduating, Dwight began practicing law in Honolulu but yearned to return home to the Big Island. In 1983, he heeded the call and opened his own law office in Hilo. Dwight has continued to practice law and remains active in the community, participating in community groups seeking to improve the quality of life on the Big Island.
Dwight served as the State Representative for the Hilo Coast, Hamakua and Kohala on the Big Island from 1984 to 2008. In 2008 Dwight was elected to the Hawai‘i State Senate, representing Hilo, Hamakua and Waimea. Dwight currently chairs the Senate Committee on Labor.
Dwight is married to Carol who has focused her career on early childhood education. They have a blended family with three sons who are all currently attending college. Galen is at the University of Hawai‘i West Oahu, Aaron is at New York University and Trevor is at the University of Hawai‘i Manoa. Carol and Dwight reside in Laupahoehoe.